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7 Strategies for Marketing to Gen Z

If you’re in marketing, chances are you’ve already heard about how to connect with Millennials; nowadays a new generation is bursting forth onto the consumer scene, many of whom just got their license and moved away to college. Born after 1995, Generation Z is the youngest generation to breach the boundaries of adulthood.

But don’t mistake their youth for insignificance. According to Fast Company, Gen Z will account for 40% of all consumers by 2020. And they’re not simply another generation of Millennials to market to. Generation Z grew up in the technological world, which means marketing to them must be more targeted than ever. Here are seven strategies for marketing to Gen Z.

1. Embrace authenticity.
Generation Z has been constantly exposed to messages and information their entire lives, which means they can quickly tell when a company is lying. They’re particularly astute to how a business connects its front face with its actual values. This means companies should embrace authenticity in every area of their marketing, advertisements and even business structure.

2. Share your values.
Speaking of values, share yours with Generation Z followers. This generation is particularly socially conscious, and they tend to do business with companies who share their values. Identify what your core principles are—and where you stand on some social issues—and see how you can link them into your marketing strategy to demonstrate more authenticity.

3. Be on social.
This might come as no surprise, but Gen Z is one of the most social generations for businesses to work with. If your company isn’t on social media, chances are it’s not reaching Generation Z. Update your social networking presence, stay on top of digital marketing trends and keep your social media strategy relevant to position your business in a strong light with Gen Z.

4. Work with influencers.
Generation Z are constantly connected, and they get most of their product information and insight from social influencers. As you upgrade your social media presence, consider working with a variety of online influencers to help promote your products. But, remember authenticity: develop long-term relationships with content creators to draft genuine stories for Gen Z.

5. Leverage reviews.
As they’ve grown up around technology, Generation Z customers constantly have a plethora of ratings and reviews to help them choose their products. Therefore, positive user-generated reviews are crucial to business success with Generation Z. A company can no longer have a few small reviews here or there; genuine reviews should be a top priority.

6. Keep it simple.
Gen Z is used to being bombarded by messages and making their decisions quickly. As a byproduct of technology, they have an increasingly short attention span. This means your business needs to keep its marketing messages simple and straight to the point. Don’t beat around the bush, or you risk losing the audience’s attention and the sale entirely.

7. Use mobile first.
Be where your customers are, which is on their phones. Say goodbye to much of desktop, web browser and email marketing. With Generation Z, embrace a mobile-first marketing strategy. Say hello to native apps, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. Most importantly, make sure your website is mobile-friendly, where consumers can easily find you.

Marketing is an ever-changing game, and as Generation Z embraces adulthood, strategies are forced to adapt, too. If you want to connect with Generation Z, keep these marketing tactics in mind for how to share your product and support your business.